Obama prepares to address to school children; Watch live online

President Barack Obama will deliver a national speech on education to students on September 8th at 12:00 p.m. at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA.

The speech will be broadcast live on www.whitehouse.gov as well as CSPAN. President Obama will focus on the importance of student taking responsibility for their success in school.

“The President will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan wrote in a letter to school principles last week.

“He will also call for a shared responsibility and commitment on the part of students, parents and educators to ensure that every child in every school receives the best education possible so they can compete in the global economy for good jobs and live rewarding and productive lives as American citizens,” he said.

White House officials said it is the first time that president Obama has spoken directly to the nation's students since 1991 when former president George H.W. Bush spoke to students in Deal Junior High School.

The White House also said the speech is not a policy speech but designed to speak to kids about staying in school.

“The goal of the speech and the lesson plans is to challenge students to work hard in school, to not drop out and to meet short-term goals like behaving in class, doing their homework and goals that parents and teachers alike can agree are noble,” said a White House spokesman.

But the address has already sparked some controversy.

Florida's GOP Chair Jim Greer has denounced the speech, warning that Obama will attempt to indoctrinate students with socialist ideology.